The American Academy of Pediatrics, California (AAP-CA), representing over 5,000 California pediatricians, supports proposed legislation AB 2949 (Gloria) to allow a pupil who is a child of a military family to continue attending his or her school of origin regardless of a change of residence or the end of the parent’s military service.

Student mobility, especially multiple moves, can cause lower school engagement, poorer grades, and a higher risk of dropping out of high school. Students generally lose about three months of reading and math learning each time they switch schools. Children from military families move an average of six to nine times during a school career. California is home to the largest number of active duty military in the country. As of August 2017, there were 56,127 children attending K-12 schools in California, who were affiliated with 30 different military commands throughout the state.

AB 2949 (Gloria) would minimize additional school disruptions for military students by giving military families the option of completing the current academic year at their school of original enrollment. Voluntary transfers, which are more likely to happen during the summer, cause less academic disruption and may be associated with academic improvement. An enrollment policy that allows military students to continue attending the school of origin could reduce the impact of frequent moves on their academic performance.

Pediatrician members of AAP California Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4 statewide strongly support proposed legislation AB 2949 (Gloria) and urge an AYE vote. Thank you for your public service and leadership on behalf of the health and wellbeing of children, youth, and families in California.

Latest Tweets from Kris Calvin, CEO

The information presented on this web site is not intended to replace the medical care and advice of your own pediatrician. Individual pediatricians may vary their treatments based on particular facts and circumstances in each case. View our privacy policy.